He reared his head in obvious surprise. “There’s nothing wrong with me in that department.”
For a moment she couldn’t breathe, she was so thrilled to hear that news, for his sake. “I—I’m sorry if I jumped to the wrong conclusion,” she stammered. “Thank heaven you’re all right.”
But another part of her was humiliated to have given herself away. It meant he had another reason for not making love to her. Afraid she knew what it was, she got off the bed and put the fallen quilt back on the crib railing.
“Looking back on the explosion, I suppose you could say the collateral damage didn’t take everything away,” he murmured.
Needing to do something to deflect the pain after that grim assessment, she started cleaning up the mess they’d made. He took the plastic from her hands. “I’ll take care of this.”
Unable to meet his gaze, she reached for a book she’d been reading, and hurried up on deck to put distance between them. Now that she knew the whole truth of their situation from her husband’s lips, she could envision what life had been like after Nikos’s father accused his mother of being unfaithful, all of it based on a vicious rumor. The thought that the baby might not be his had changed the dynamics of their marriage.
Was Nikos following the same pattern? Unsure of her still, would he go only so far and no further while he waited for the result in January?
Stephanie had thought her husband was beginning to believe their baby was his. A few minutes ago she’d felt closer to him than she’d thought possible. Though she could shout it to the heavens that the stamp of a Vassalos would be on their little boy, she would never be able to convince Nikos of it until after the delivery.
“Stephanie?”
She wheeled around just as she’d arranged a lounger to sit in while she read. “Yannis! I didn’t know you were here. We thought you wouldn’t be back until tonight.”
“I’ve got some repair work to do and decided to get at it before dark.”
Put on a good face.
She could tell he was dying to know how her doctor’s visit went, but he was never one to pry into her business. “We got back a while ago. Nikos set up a crib in my room. You’ll be impressed what a good job he did. Our baby boy will be very happy in it.”
A grin broke out on the man’s bronzed face. “You’re going to have a son?”
“That’s what the doctor said. We plan to call him Alex.”
“That’s a fine family name.”
“Yes. Ask Nikos to show you a picture.”
The older seaman’s eyes looked suspiciously bright. “I’m very happy for you.”
“We’re happy, too.” She would keep up the pretense if it killed her. “Thank you for all your kindness to me, Yannis. You do so many things to help me, and I’m grateful.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
“Nikos couldn’t get along without you, even if you do put him through torture every day helping him do his exercises. But you already know that, don’t you?”
For once she saw him blush.
“He’s a slave driver, all right.” Nikos had just joined them. “I guess my wife has told you the news.”
Yannis clapped him on the shoulder. “She says you have a photo.”
“Right here.” Nikos pulled it out of his pocket.
The seaman’s eyes squinted against the light to get a good look. “He’s beautiful, like his mother.”
“I was just telling her he’ll have the most beautiful woman on the island for his
mana.”
But you can’t take credit for being the father yet,
her heart cried.
Stephanie would have to harden herself, because this was going to be the way of it for the next five months.
CHAPTER NINE
December 10
S
TEPHANIE
LOVED
HER
Greek lessons. For the last four months Yannis had driven her faithfully to and from the school on Oinoussa every weekday after breakfast for her two-hour session with Borus. The forty-year-old was a part-time counselor who was glad for the extra money. He was also a lot of fun.
The closer she drew to her delivery date, the more taciturn and anxious Nikos had become. Whether or not he believed this child was his, she knew he worried. Even though Dr. Panos had assured him at every appointment that she was coming along normally, with no unexpected complications, he didn’t seem to quite believe it, and hovered over her until there were times when she wanted to scream.
With the baby due in three weeks, he argued with her that she should stop the lessons. A month ago he’d told her no more swimming with Tassos’s wife in order to give her scuba pointers.
While they were eating breakfast this morning, she asked Nikos if he was ordering her to stay home today. The question turned his features into a cool mask before he told her the lessons would end when her teacher left for the Christmas holidays on the seventeenth.
With that pronouncement Nikos got up from the table, taking his coffee with him to the lounge to work. These days the
Diomedes
stayed in port and he used a small cruiser to travel back and forth from the rig erected offshore.
To her joy his business with Tassos was growing, and he’d acquired rights to drill off some of the other uninhabited islands of the Oinousses cluster. His strong concern for the environment made certain there’d be no damage to the local habitat.
As usual when Stephanie came out of class, she tried out what she’d learned on Yannis, who was an excellent teacher himself. But today when he greeted her, she could tell he had something serious on his mind.
“What’s wrong? Has something happened to Nikos?” she cried in alarm.
“No, no.”
“Thank goodness.” She had to wait for her heartbeat to slow down.
“You have a visitor on board. She’s very anxious to talk to you.”
Stephanie frowned. “Who?”
“Kyria Vassalos, Nikos’s mother.”
“Oh...” She couldn’t believe it. “Is Nikos with her?”
“No. He’s gone to the rig. She came when she knew he wouldn’t be here.”
“How did she know?”
“Because I worked for her when he was just a boy. We’ve always been friends.”
“Which means you’ve always kept her informed.” Stephanie got it.
“Yes. Today Nikos’s father is away in Athens on business. It’s been her first chance to come and visit. I sent my son to fetch her in his boat. But if you don’t want to meet her, I’ll tell her to go back to Egnoussa.”
“No. Don’t do that.” More than anything in the world Stephanie had wanted to meet his mother. She just hadn’t expected their first meeting to happen when she was in full bloom, with swollen feet and her face marked with chloasma, the pregnancy mask. If she could be thankful for one thing, it was that she could carry on a basic conversation in Greek.
Her nervousness increased as Yannis drove her to the port. Together they walked along the pier to the yacht. Stephanie could see his mother looking out from the rail. Her luxuriant black hair was pulled back in a stylish twist. She was trim, and shorter than Stephanie by several inches. With her white slacks and stunning blue blouse setting off her olive skin, she was a true Grecian beauty. This was where Nikos got his fantastic looks.
As Stephanie stepped on board, the older woman turned, focusing her soft brown eyes on her. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said in accented English. “I’ve wanted to meet the woman my son married. I’m sorry it didn’t happen when you came to our home. You need to know I’m ashamed of my husband’s behavior toward you. My name is—”
“Hestia.” Stephanie supplied it for her. “I know your name and I’m so glad you’re here now,” she said in her best Greek. “You raised a wonderful son. I love him very much.”
His mother made a quiet study of her. “For him to have married you the day after you arrived in Greece, it’s obvious how he feels about you.”
Stephanie shook her head. “He married me for the sake of the baby.” Taking a risk, she added, “He doesn’t believe he’s the father.”
Hestia looked stunned. “I don’t understand.”
“Come downstairs with me and we’ll talk.” They went below. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Nothing, thank you.”
“Then come to my room.”
A gasp escaped Hestia’s lips when she saw the bedroom turned into a nursery. Between Stephanie’s bed and everything a mother needed to take care of her new baby, there was barely room to move.
At this point Stephanie’s speech was sprinkled with Greek and English. “Please sit down in the rocking chair. I have something to give you.” She went over to the dresser and pulled out a photo album. “I wish you had been at the wedding. You should have been there. I made this for you and your husband to keep.”
The older woman opened the cover. For the next five minutes she remained speechless as she looked at all the pictures. When she finally lifted her head, tears were rolling down her cheeks. Stephanie saw in those brown eyes all the sorrow a mother could at missing out on her child’s wedding day.
“Nikos told me about your husband’s distrust when you were pregnant with him. I’m afraid the same thing has happened to me. We had only ten days together on vacation last April. We don’t know that much about each other, and so much happened after he had to return to active duty, it raised his doubts about life. About everything.”
His mother nodded sadly. “Even though he could walk, he was on the verge of giving up when we took him home from the hospital.”
Tears welled in Stephanie’s eyes. “He’s much better now, but he won’t believe this is his baby until after Alexandros is born.”
“You can forgive my son for this?”
She smiled. “Didn’t you forgive his father?” Stephanie reached for the sonogram picture and showed it to her. “That was at four months. He was only four and half inches long. Now look at him.” She placed her hands on top of her big stomach.
Hestia didn’t give her a verbal answer, but got to her feet. After setting the album on the dresser, she put her arms around Stephanie and hugged her. “You must come for Christmas and stay the whole day. Everyone wants to meet you. I won’t take no for an answer.”
Stephanie’s heart warmed. “We’ll be there. Even if Nikos is still upset with his father, he won’t dare refuse to accompany me if I go. He hovers around me constantly these days. Sometimes he follows me when I have to go to the bathroom!”
Laughter bubbled out of her mother-in-law. “That’s how my husband was with all three of our children, doubts and all.” She wiped her eyes. “I’m going to leave so Nikos won’t find me here when he comes home.”
“Yannis will see you out to the dock.” Stephanie handed her the album to take with her.
“He’s a treasure, but I’m sure you’ve learned that for yourself by now.”
“Definitely.”
“Take good care of yourself, Stephanie. Your time is close.”
“Don’t worry. Nikos does it for both of us.”
They both laughed as they started up the stairs. Stephanie felt as if she was floating. Already she loved Nikos’s mother.
December 17
Nikos lounged against the door of the car while he waited for Stephanie to come out of the school. After going to her doctor’s appointment with her, he’d driven her straight here. He was glad this would be her last day of Greek lessons. Her due date was two weeks from tomorrow. Dr. Panos had told her to rest and keep her feet up. Nikos intended to see that she followed his instructions.
Just when his patience had worn thin and he was ready to go in and get her, the school doors opened and his wife emerged with her teacher. Borus Paulos had come highly recommended, but all Nikos could see was that he was enamored of her in the jacketed white sundress she’d bought that first day shopping.
The man gesticulated while he continued talking. Nikos doubted he’d noticed him waiting, but Stephanie saw him. She waved before saying goodbye to her teacher. Then she started walking toward him.
For a moment he was transported back to the Caribbean. He’d been walking along the beach with Angelo when he saw this woman in a wet suit with a fabulous body. Her hair looked gilded in the sun. She was coming to meet Angelo on those long, elegant legs.
When she drew closer, her gaze suddenly switched to Nikos. Her eyes were an impossible blue color, dazzling like rare gems. Her voluptuous mouth curved into a friendly smile. She looked happy and excited because they were going to dive. At that moment the most remarkable sensation had passed through Nikos’s body and he was never the same again.
That same electrifying feeling was attacking him now as Stephanie approached the car and their gazes met. He lost his breath. This woman with child was his wife! Whether the baby was his or not, he realized it no longer mattered to him. Somehow over the months they’d become his family. If he’d seen this day while he lay recuperating in the hospital, he would have thought he’d lost his mental faculties along with the ability to walk.
“Sorry it took me so long to get away,” she said a little breathlessly. “Borus is a talker when he gets going.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Her tutor couldn’t help his hormones raging in her presence. In fact, the way Nikos himself was feeling at the moment, he didn’t dare touch her while they were in front of other people. He opened the passenger door to help her in, seduced by the strawberry-scented shampoo she used in the shower. When her swollen belly brushed against him by accident, his heart gave an extra beat in wonder, while she let out a gentle laugh.
By some miracle she’d stayed incredibly healthy throughout her pregnancy. She’d never developed the serious problems he’d heard various married business associates talk about. Though she complained of swelling and the chloasma she insisted made her resemble a raccoon, he’d never seen her more beautifully feminine.
It had taken control almost beyond his endurance to stay away from her. Because of his injury she’d wrongly assumed he couldn’t make love to her as he’d done on the island. But only one thing had held him back. Stark staring fear.
She didn’t know what it was like to worry that he might cause harm to her and the baby during a flashback. It was the only force strong enough to keep him locked up in his room night after night. After living together this long without an incident that left bruises on her, he refused to allow anything to go wrong now.
After lunch they were going to do the last of their Christmas shopping. Just a few more presents, nothing taxing. While they were gone, he’d instructed Yannis to put up the little Christmas tree with lights he’d bought and smuggled on board. The lounge was the best place to surprise her. It wasn’t a tradition Nikos followed, but he knew Americans were big on it, and such things were important to his wife.
He darted her a glance before he started the car. “Hungry?”
“You know, for once I’m not? But if you want to eat before we shop, that’s fine with me.”
“What I’d like to do is get the gift buying over with as fast as possible and go back home. I’ll cook today and surprise you with something you haven’t had before.”
She smiled at him. “I’d love that.”
“Good.”
With the much cooler late autumn temperatures, she appeared to thrive. He could only marvel at her energy.
“Let’s shop at the main department store,” she suggested. “That way we can find everything we want under one roof.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” He headed in that direction. “Just so you know, Tassos phoned while I was waiting for you. He and Elianna have invited us to their house for their family’s Christmas Day party.”
He felt Stephanie stir restlessly in the seat. “That’s very nice of them, but we can’t go.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
When she remained quiet, he slanted her a glance. “Stephanie? What’s wrong?”
“Nikos,” she began, but her hesitation was plain as day. He saw a guilty look enter her eyes. It surprised him no end.
“You don’t want to go?”
“Under other circumstances I would, but that’s not it.” She shook her head. “I have a confession to make.”
Just when he’d been thinking nothing had gone wrong with her pregnancy, he was terrified she was going to tell him something he didn’t want to hear. On impulse he pulled over to the side of the street and shut off the engine. Turning in the seat, he slid his arm behind her and tugged on a few strands of her hair.
“Are you ill? Is there something you didn’t tell the doctor this morning?”
“This isn’t about me. I...it’s about us.”
In an instant his blood ran cold. “You mean after all this time, you’ve chosen today instead of Christmas to tell me who the father of your baby is?”
“No! Nikos.”
Her horrified cry reverberated in the car. “I’m going about this all wrong. Your mother came to see me last week while your father was away in Athens. We had a frank talk about everything. I showed her the sonogram picture. She’s wonderful and I love her already. Before she left, I gave her the wedding album I made for them. She has invited us to spend Christmas Day with your family. I accepted for us.”
After he’d imagined every horrific thing possible that could destroy life as he knew it, her explanation came as a complete shock. It took a minute for him to assimilate what she’d just said. He waited until he’d calmed down enough to talk. “That won’t be a problem. I’ll phone and tell her we’ve made other plans. She’ll understand.”
“No, I don’t think she will. Nikos,” Stephanie said in a tremulous whisper. “She adores you and needs to see her son. They’ve missed out on more than a decade of your life. You can’t disappoint them. Life’s too short.”
He sucked in his breath. “My father’s bias against Castor and his children for being who they are has been unconscionable, Stephanie. After what he did to my mother and the way he spoke to you, I can’t be in the same room with him.”
She put a hand to his cheek. “But she’s forgiven him and so have I. As you told me, he’s afraid and doesn’t know how to make things right. If you don’t show him the way, his fear of losing you will send him to the grave a desperately unhappy man. What joy could there be in that for any of us?”